Re: [sudo-discuss] Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed - sudo-discuss

Patrik D'haeseleer

10 May 10 May

7:33 p.m.

New subject: Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed

On Sat, May 10, 2014 at 7:29 PM, <batkid(a)gmx.com> wrote:

Don't worry, Oakland won't become the East Hamptons anytime soon http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25737160/oakland-man-shot-driving-truc… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25732368/jurors-convict-man-murdering-… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25731273/oakland-man-dies-from-injurie…

Oh good - I was getting worried about having too many museum shows and cat video festivals in the neighborhood... Patrik -----Original message-----

...

Sent: Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 21:30:39 From: "Romy Snowyla" <romy(a)snowyla.com> To: "Sudo Room Discussion List" <sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org> Subject: [sudo-discuss] Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed The museum shows, the cat festival.. I guess we are all part of the master plan : P _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss

Reply

Sonja Trauss

10:43 a.m.

New subject: Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed

Quick point - you guys know that it was the housing market crash (sudden DECREASE in home values) that set off waves of foreclosures, right? In other words, suppose you're in one of these loans. You realized what is about to happen to you ("FUCK! I can't afford the mortgage after reset!) let's look at two scenereos: Scenereo one: the value of your house has increased since you purchased it two years ago. The house is worth more than you owe on it, and there are many buyers interested in buying homes like yours in your area. Scenereo two: the value of your home has decreased since you purchased it two years ago. The house is worth less than you owe on it, and there are very few people interested in buying homes like yours in your area. Which scenero is better for you? What do you do in each scenereo? On Sunday, May 11, 2014, Autonomous <autonomous666(a)gmail.com> wrote:

...

Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed

Indeed. It is particularly reprehensible that specific neighborhoods in Oakland were targeted for predatory loans and fraudulent foreclosures. The attached image shows foreclosures in Oakland represented by small dots which is overlaid onto demographic data showing non-white neighborhoods in red and white neighborhoods in blue. See a pattern here? This is a form of economic warfare targeted against people of color who have lost a massive amount of wealth while investors have moved in to profit from the resulting increase in real estate values. The scam involves a loan with very low interest for a period of two years followed by a dramatic increase in interest. When people ask for a loan modification, they are told they need to miss a payment in order to qualify - it's in the servicing contract. Then, upon missing one payment, the bank refuses to accept any more payments by giving the run-around and the home is subsequently foreclosed upon. If that wasn't enough, people are forcibly removed from their homes by illegal eviction proceedings. Typically the unfortunate former homeowner only learns about the eviction when the police show up to kick them out on the street along with all their possessions. This is because they aren't served properly and have no idea a court action even existed. This pattern was repeated over and over in Oakland, as you can see in the attached image. [image: Inline image 2] On Sat, May 10, 2014 at 7:33 PM, Patrik D'haeseleer <patrikd@gmail.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','patrikd@gmail.com');>

wrote:

> On Sat, May 10, 2014 at 7:29 PM, <batkid@gmx.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','batkid@gmx.com');> >

wrote:

> >> Don't worry, Oakland won't become the East Hamptons anytime soon >> >> >> http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25737160/oakland-man-shot-driving-truc… >> >> http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25732368/jurors-convict-man-murdering-… >> >> http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25731273/oakland-man-dies-from-injurie… > > > Oh good - I was getting worried about having too many museum shows and > cat video festivals in the neighborhood... > > Patrik > > -----Original message----- >> Sent: Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 21:30:39 >> From: "Romy Snowyla" <romy@snowyla.com<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','romy@snowyla.com');> >> > >> To: "Sudo Room Discussion List" <sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org');> >> > >> Subject: [sudo-discuss] Oakland gentrification is very well planned & >> executed >> The museum shows, the cat festival.. I guess we are all part of the >> master plan : P >> _______________________________________________ >> sudo-discuss mailing list >> sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org');> >> https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss >> > > > _______________________________________________ > sudo-discuss mailing list > sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org<javascript:_e(%7B%7D,'cvml','sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org');> > https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss > >

Reply

Sam Tepper

3:16 p.m.

New subject: Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed

Thanks for the link, Ryan. I don't think people doubt that gentrification has its upsides - that's why it's so sought after for so many people - but there are two main downsides, I'd say, that are against the values we generally try to hold at Sudo Room. 1. Gentrification and its benefits target white middle-class families. Even if many or most original residents who stay are financially better off, those who are left are far less diverse, and racism plays a fundamental role in the gentrification process. 2. Gentrified neighborhoods are generally home to fewer artists, immigrants, and even aspiring hackers because these people can frequently be poor to the point of destitution, even when their skill level is high. We do need to address the positives in order to have a dialog, to educate and address the problems behind most gentrification efforts, and try to increase financial health and stability in more positive, socially responsible ways. -Sam On 05/11/2014 02:38 PM, Ryan Bethencourt wrote:

...

I'm intrigued by this discussion, what's seemed odd to me for a while is that the conversation seems to be very one sided, i.e. all gentrification is bad, yet what about if it isn't? What if a rising tide lifts all boats? I came across an article a while back that was published on NPR (not known for being biased one way or the other) which discussed the data which actually tended to support the positive aspects of gentrification for residents of poorer neighborhoods. It's worth a read: "We're finding that the financial health of original residents in gentrifying neighborhoods seems to be increasing, as compared to original residents in nongentrifying, low-priced neighborhoods," says Daniel Hartley, a research economist with the bank." http://www.npr.org/2014/01/22/264528139/long-a-dirty-word-gentrification-ma… I would also make the argument that spaces like Sudo Room, Public Schools, LOL space, Counter Culture labs and etc actually make a net positive impact for the entire community and yet do have a gentrifying effect. We have much work yet to do but communal spaces, open education and the maker movement have the potential to empower many communities and I say that as someone that hopes to do more to help lift others up, I think most of us are of the same mindset? Upwards and Onwards! Ryan

Sonja Trauss <mailto:sonja.trauss@gmail.com> May 11, 2014 at 10:43 AM Quick point - you guys know that it was the housing market crash (sudden DECREASE in home values) that set off waves of foreclosures, right? In other words, suppose you're in one of these loans. You realized what is about to happen to you ("FUCK! I can't afford the mortgage after reset!) let's look at two scenereos: Scenereo one: the value of your house has increased since you purchased it two years ago. The house is worth more than you owe on it, and there are many buyers interested in buying homes like yours in your area. Scenereo two: the value of your home has decreased since you purchased it two years ago. The house is worth less than you owe on it, and there are very few people interested in buying homes like yours in your area. Which scenero is better for you? What do you do in each scenereo? On Sunday, May 11, 2014, Autonomous <autonomous666(a)gmail.com <mailto:autonomous666@gmail.com>> wrote: _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss Autonomous <mailto:autonomous666@gmail.com> May 11, 2014 at 9:56 AM

Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed

Indeed. It is particularly reprehensible that specific neighborhoods in Oakland were targeted for predatory loans and fraudulent foreclosures. The attached image shows foreclosures in Oakland represented by small dots which is overlaid onto demographic data showing non-white neighborhoods in red and white neighborhoods in blue. See a pattern here? This is a form of economic warfare targeted against people of color who have lost a massive amount of wealth while investors have moved in to profit from the resulting increase in real estate values. The scam involves a loan with very low interest for a period of two years followed by a dramatic increase in interest. When people ask for a loan modification, they are told they need to miss a payment in order to qualify - it's in the servicing contract. Then, upon missing one payment, the bank refuses to accept any more payments by giving the run-around and the home is subsequently foreclosed upon. If that wasn't enough, people are forcibly removed from their homes by illegal eviction proceedings. Typically the unfortunate former homeowner only learns about the eviction when the police show up to kick them out on the street along with all their possessions. This is because they aren't served properly and have no idea a court action even existed. This pattern was repeated over and over in Oakland, as you can see in the attached image. Inline image 2 _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss Patrik D'haeseleer <mailto:patrikd@gmail.com> May 10, 2014 at 7:33 PM On Sat, May 10, 2014 at 7:29 PM, <batkid(a)gmx.com <mailto:batkid@gmx.com>> wrote: Don't worry, Oakland won't become the East Hamptons anytime soon http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25737160/oakland-man-shot-driving-truc… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25732368/jurors-convict-man-murdering-… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25731273/oakland-man-dies-from-injurie… Oh good - I was getting worried about having too many museum shows and cat video festivals in the neighborhood... Patrik -----Original message----- Sent: Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 21:30:39 From: "Romy Snowyla" <romy(a)snowyla.com <mailto:romy@snowyla.com>> To: "Sudo Room Discussion List" <sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org <mailto:sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org>> Subject: [sudo-discuss] Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed The museum shows, the cat festival.. I guess we are all part of the master plan : P _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org <mailto:sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org> https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss batkid(a)gmx.com <mailto:batkid@gmx.com> May 10, 2014 at 7:29 PM Don't worry, Oakland won't become the East Hamptons anytime soon http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25737160/oakland-man-shot-driving-truc… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25732368/jurors-convict-man-murdering-… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25731273/oakland-man-dies-from-injurie… -----Original message----- Sent: Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 21:30:39 From: "Romy Snowyla" <romy(a)snowyla.com> To: "Sudo Room Discussion List" <sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org> Subject: [sudo-discuss] Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed The museum shows, the cat festival.. I guess we are all part of the master plan : P _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss

-- -- Ryan Bethencourt Tel: (415) 825 2705 ryan.bethencourt(a)gmail.com <mailto:ryan.bethencourt@gmail.com> @ryanbethencourt _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss

Reply

Tony Barreca

3:59 p.m.

New subject: Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed

And as you pointed out, Ryan, it's important for such a dialog to be based on data at least as much as on ideology, imo. On Sun, May 11, 2014 at 3:39 PM, Ryan Bethencourt < ryan.bethencourt(a)gmail.com> wrote:

...

Good points Sam and I agree that any improvements in neighborhoods should be inclusive to ensure that a broad range of residents (not just middle to high income) can continue to be part of the community, it's after all the diversity that enriches our community both racially, artistically and creatively. A big part of that is ensuring that a broad range of housing is available for all budgets (which cities like SF have failed to deliver on, which appears to be due to strong anti-growth mentalities which prices those who can least afford it out). Saying that, I'm just not a fan of how the term gentrification is being used, it seems divisive to me, them and us, if we're a community space, surely we should embrace all of those who wish to add to the community and share their skill sets (regardless of race, income, creed or gender preferences and hold to non-discrimination). Google engineers are being vilified and yet I think it's a failure of governmental institutions to develop adequate policies to ensure a full range of housing and services are available for those who need it most and not engineers who are just looking for a decent place to live at a reasonable price. I'd definitely embrace a balanced dialog and on the pros and cons and how we can insure a more inclusive Oakland for everyone :) All the best, Ryan On Sun, May 11, 2014 at 3:16 PM, Sam Tepper <sam.tepper(a)gmail.com> wrote:

Thanks for the link, Ryan. I don't think people doubt that gentrification has its upsides - that's why it's so sought after for so many people - but there are two main downsides, I'd say, that are against the values we generally try to hold at Sudo Room. 1. Gentrification and its benefits target white middle-class families. Even if many or most original residents who stay are financially better off, those who are left are far less diverse, and racism plays a fundamental role in the gentrification process. 2. Gentrified neighborhoods are generally home to fewer artists, immigrants, and even aspiring hackers because these people can frequently be poor to the point of destitution, even when their skill level is high. We do need to address the positives in order to have a dialog, to educate and address the problems behind most gentrification efforts, and try to increase financial health and stability in more positive, socially responsible ways. -Sam On 05/11/2014 02:38 PM, Ryan Bethencourt wrote: I'm intrigued by this discussion, what's seemed odd to me for a while is that the conversation seems to be very one sided, i.e. all gentrification is bad, yet what about if it isn't? What if a rising tide lifts all boats? I came across an article a while back that was published on NPR (not known for being biased one way or the other) which discussed the data which actually tended to support the positive aspects of gentrification for residents of poorer neighborhoods. It's worth a read: "We're finding that the financial health of original residents in gentrifying neighborhoods seems to be increasing, as compared to original residents in nongentrifying, low-priced neighborhoods," says Daniel Hartley, a research economist with the bank." http://www.npr.org/2014/01/22/264528139/long-a-dirty-word-gentrification-ma… I would also make the argument that spaces like Sudo Room, Public Schools, LOL space, Counter Culture labs and etc actually make a net positive impact for the entire community and yet do have a gentrifying effect. We have much work yet to do but communal spaces, open education and the maker movement have the potential to empower many communities and I say that as someone that hopes to do more to help lift others up, I think most of us are of the same mindset? Upwards and Onwards! Ryan Sonja Trauss <sonja.trauss(a)gmail.com> May 11, 2014 at 10:43 AM Quick point - you guys know that it was the housing market crash (sudden DECREASE in home values) that set off waves of foreclosures, right? In other words, suppose you're in one of these loans. You realized what is about to happen to you ("FUCK! I can't afford the mortgage after reset!) let's look at two scenereos: Scenereo one: the value of your house has increased since you purchased it two years ago. The house is worth more than you owe on it, and there are many buyers interested in buying homes like yours in your area. Scenereo two: the value of your home has decreased since you purchased it two years ago. The house is worth less than you owe on it, and there are very few people interested in buying homes like yours in your area. Which scenero is better for you? What do you do in each scenereo? On Sunday, May 11, 2014, Autonomous <autonomous666(a)gmail.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss Autonomous <autonomous666(a)gmail.com> May 11, 2014 at 9:56 AM

Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed

Indeed. It is particularly reprehensible that specific neighborhoods in Oakland were targeted for predatory loans and fraudulent foreclosures. The attached image shows foreclosures in Oakland represented by small dots which is overlaid onto demographic data showing non-white neighborhoods in red and white neighborhoods in blue. See a pattern here? This is a form of economic warfare targeted against people of color who have lost a massive amount of wealth while investors have moved in to profit from the resulting increase in real estate values. The scam involves a loan with very low interest for a period of two years followed by a dramatic increase in interest. When people ask for a loan modification, they are told they need to miss a payment in order to qualify - it's in the servicing contract. Then, upon missing one payment, the bank refuses to accept any more payments by giving the run-around and the home is subsequently foreclosed upon. If that wasn't enough, people are forcibly removed from their homes by illegal eviction proceedings. Typically the unfortunate former homeowner only learns about the eviction when the police show up to kick them out on the street along with all their possessions. This is because they aren't served properly and have no idea a court action even existed. This pattern was repeated over and over in Oakland, as you can see in the attached image. [image: Inline image 2] _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss Patrik D'haeseleer <patrikd(a)gmail.com> May 10, 2014 at 7:33 PM On Sat, May 10, 2014 at 7:29 PM, <batkid(a)gmx.com> wrote:

Don't worry, Oakland won't become the East Hamptons anytime soon http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25737160/oakland-man-shot-driving-truc… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25732368/jurors-convict-man-murdering-… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25731273/oakland-man-dies-from-injurie…

Oh good - I was getting worried about having too many museum shows and cat video festivals in the neighborhood... Patrik -----Original message-----

Sent: Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 21:30:39 From: "Romy Snowyla" <romy(a)snowyla.com> To: "Sudo Room Discussion List" <sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org> Subject: [sudo-discuss] Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed The museum shows, the cat festival.. I guess we are all part of the master plan : P _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss

_______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing listsudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.orghttps://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss batkid(a)gmx.com May 10, 2014 at 7:29 PM Don't worry, Oakland won't become the East Hamptons anytime soon http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25737160/oakland-man-shot-driving-truc… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25732368/jurors-convict-man-murdering-… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25731273/oakland-man-dies-from-injurie… -----Original message----- Sent: Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 21:30:39 From: "Romy Snowyla" <romy(a)snowyla.com> <romy(a)snowyla.com> To: "Sudo Room Discussion List" <sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org><sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org> Subject: [sudo-discuss] Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed The museum shows, the cat festival.. I guess we are all part of the master plan : P _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss -- -- Ryan Bethencourt Tel: (415) 825 2705 ryan.bethencourt(a)gmail.com @ryanbethencourt _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing listsudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.orghttps://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss

-- Ryan Bethencourt Tel: (415) 825 2705 Conf Call: (650) 741 5013 ryan.bethencourt(a)gmail.com http://www.litmususa.com/ http://berkeleybiolabs.com/ www.bamh1.com www.linkedin.com/in/bethencourt www.logos-press.com/books/biotechnology_business_development.php _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss

-- Tony Barreca LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/tonybarreca Skype: tonybarreca Twitter: tbarreca Mobile: (510) 710-5864

Reply

Jehan Tremback

12 May 12 May

7:06 p.m.

New subject: Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed

Actually, anyone who rents space gentrifies by definition, as their demand in the market pushes prices up. This goes for all of us. Sudo, and many of the people involved in the community gentrify even more than the average person. I lived in West Oakland about 7 years ago when it was pretty much non-gentrified. I wasn't living there because the sweet open source community, or the hipster coffeeshops (Actual Cafe, that other place downtown, and many others at this point). I wasn't living there because of the oh-so-indie art boutiques, or precious vegan donut bakeries. None of that stuff existed at that point. I was living there because it was the only place that I could afford. All of this hipster cultural stuff, sudo room definitely included, makes Oakland more desirable to people who have a choice about where to live. People who actually WANT to live in Oakland, and moved there <5 years ago, are the very definition of gentrification. Doesn't matter if you're an underground hackertyper fighting the man, a renegade yarnbomber, or even an activist kombucha liberator. If you engage in actions that make a neighborhood a more desirable place to live, people will want to live there. They will look for apartments, and rent will go up. Some people who were living there because it was the only place they could afford will be pushed out by the higher prices. This is cause and effect. Ironically, the people who yell loudest about gentrification are the first wave gentrifiers who make it all happen. The solution to a lack of housing? More housing. On Sun, May 11, 2014 at 6:39 PM, Phil Wolff <pwolff(a)gmail.com> wrote:

...

I haven't thought of "white flight" for a long time. Never thought of gentrification as white flight reversed. It's not an exact opposite, but helpful in thinking of gentrification as a flavor of migration. Omni and Sudo won't materially affect gentrification rates one way or the other. What's in our power is affecting how our communities respond to this change, and to others. We are propagating values, skills, and resources handy for those confronting macro-level disruptions. Hacker ethics. Maker skills. Inclusive community. Sharing economics. Occupy energy. Sustainable practices. Culture innovation. Where we bring these, we're making our community more capable and resilient, healing the world. *Tikkun olam. * This month we're very aware of Sudo as a place, a site at an address. We talked about raising Omni funds by drawing the surrounding community to use our common areas for events, by boosting memberships of the collectives as we pull people into our orbits. Moving in, settling in should take the rest of this year. But we should also be thinking about ways to bring our Sudoey goodness to more people and more neighborhoods. I've heard Matt imagine small satellite Sudo spaces spread across the map. I've seen yar do FirstFriday and library outreach. Hackpacks have a similar future. Perhaps we'll eventually have the hacker version of library bookmobiles, a hack truck we bring to schools, fairs, parking lots. 2015? Our presence sudofies, not gentrifiies. -- Phil Wolff pwolff(a)gmail.com skype:evanwolf +1-510-343-5664 http://about.me/evanwolf bio <http://letmydatago.org/>http://twitter.com/evanwolf @ http://www.linkedin.com/in/philwolff cv http://LetMyDataGo.org blog http://www.facebook.com/philwolff face _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss

Reply

Sonja Trauss

3:45 p.m.

New subject: Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed

Racism plays a fundamental role in the gentrification process, but I think in the opposite way you are thinking of. The 1st comment on the article above puts it nicely: todays whites are less racist, they are more willing/ think it's normal to live around black people or other ppl of color. One of the many factors that depresses and as been depressing property values in black neighborhoods is racism. Black neighborhoods are perceived by both whites and blacks as "worse" than white neighborhoods with similar income levels and similar crime rates. As people get less racist, their perceptions of working class black neighborhoods improve. Property values can rise, people can start to feel like opening a business is a good idea etc. Let's remember how the black ghettos in American cities were created in the first place: blacks moved into working class white neighborhoods in the 40s, 50s, 60s. The racist whites on the one hand wanted to get away from their new neighbors, and on the other hand had access to easy credit to buy brand new houses in the suburbs. So they fled. The sudden mass sell offs tanked property values, leaving the remaining black homeowners owners of newly depreciated assets. If we could go back in time, and be magicians, would we say, "hey whites, don't be racist and leave! Hey government, don't build a bunch of sprawl!" We would prevent the creation of the ghettos we now have: neighborhoods characterized by LACK of diversity, under-maintained buildings and a lack of businesses. Instead we would have neighborhoods with many races, many business, no abandoned houses, and houses well maintained because property values are steady. That is what a neighborhood looks like in the absence of racism, and that is what neighborhoods formerly decimated by racism are starting to look like, now that we're a few generations beyond Jim Crow. Ironically, progressives are somehow heartbroken by these results of the decline of racism, instead of seeing a long awaited correction, it looks like a new injustice. On Sun, May 11, 2014 at 3:16 PM, Sam Tepper <sam.tepper(a)gmail.com> wrote:

...

Thanks for the link, Ryan. I don't think people doubt that gentrification has its upsides - that's why it's so sought after for so many people - but there are two main downsides, I'd say, that are against the values we generally try to hold at Sudo Room. 1. Gentrification and its benefits target white middle-class families. Even if many or most original residents who stay are financially better off, those who are left are far less diverse, and racism plays a fundamental role in the gentrification process. 2. Gentrified neighborhoods are generally home to fewer artists, immigrants, and even aspiring hackers because these people can frequently be poor to the point of destitution, even when their skill level is high. We do need to address the positives in order to have a dialog, to educate and address the problems behind most gentrification efforts, and try to increase financial health and stability in more positive, socially responsible ways. -Sam On 05/11/2014 02:38 PM, Ryan Bethencourt wrote: I'm intrigued by this discussion, what's seemed odd to me for a while is that the conversation seems to be very one sided, i.e. all gentrification is bad, yet what about if it isn't? What if a rising tide lifts all boats? I came across an article a while back that was published on NPR (not known for being biased one way or the other) which discussed the data which actually tended to support the positive aspects of gentrification for residents of poorer neighborhoods. It's worth a read: "We're finding that the financial health of original residents in gentrifying neighborhoods seems to be increasing, as compared to original residents in nongentrifying, low-priced neighborhoods," says Daniel Hartley, a research economist with the bank." http://www.npr.org/2014/01/22/264528139/long-a-dirty-word-gentrification-ma… I would also make the argument that spaces like Sudo Room, Public Schools, LOL space, Counter Culture labs and etc actually make a net positive impact for the entire community and yet do have a gentrifying effect. We have much work yet to do but communal spaces, open education and the maker movement have the potential to empower many communities and I say that as someone that hopes to do more to help lift others up, I think most of us are of the same mindset? Upwards and Onwards! Ryan Sonja Trauss <sonja.trauss(a)gmail.com> May 11, 2014 at 10:43 AM Quick point - you guys know that it was the housing market crash (sudden DECREASE in home values) that set off waves of foreclosures, right? In other words, suppose you're in one of these loans. You realized what is about to happen to you ("FUCK! I can't afford the mortgage after reset!) let's look at two scenereos: Scenereo one: the value of your house has increased since you purchased it two years ago. The house is worth more than you owe on it, and there are many buyers interested in buying homes like yours in your area. Scenereo two: the value of your home has decreased since you purchased it two years ago. The house is worth less than you owe on it, and there are very few people interested in buying homes like yours in your area. Which scenero is better for you? What do you do in each scenereo? On Sunday, May 11, 2014, Autonomous <autonomous666(a)gmail.com> wrote: _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss Autonomous <autonomous666(a)gmail.com> May 11, 2014 at 9:56 AM

Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed

Indeed. It is particularly reprehensible that specific neighborhoods in Oakland were targeted for predatory loans and fraudulent foreclosures. The attached image shows foreclosures in Oakland represented by small dots which is overlaid onto demographic data showing non-white neighborhoods in red and white neighborhoods in blue. See a pattern here? This is a form of economic warfare targeted against people of color who have lost a massive amount of wealth while investors have moved in to profit from the resulting increase in real estate values. The scam involves a loan with very low interest for a period of two years followed by a dramatic increase in interest. When people ask for a loan modification, they are told they need to miss a payment in order to qualify - it's in the servicing contract. Then, upon missing one payment, the bank refuses to accept any more payments by giving the run-around and the home is subsequently foreclosed upon. If that wasn't enough, people are forcibly removed from their homes by illegal eviction proceedings. Typically the unfortunate former homeowner only learns about the eviction when the police show up to kick them out on the street along with all their possessions. This is because they aren't served properly and have no idea a court action even existed. This pattern was repeated over and over in Oakland, as you can see in the attached image. [image: Inline image 2] _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss Patrik D'haeseleer <patrikd(a)gmail.com> May 10, 2014 at 7:33 PM On Sat, May 10, 2014 at 7:29 PM, <batkid(a)gmx.com> wrote:

Don't worry, Oakland won't become the East Hamptons anytime soon http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25737160/oakland-man-shot-driving-truc… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25732368/jurors-convict-man-murdering-… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25731273/oakland-man-dies-from-injurie…

Oh good - I was getting worried about having too many museum shows and cat video festivals in the neighborhood... Patrik -----Original message-----

Sent: Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 21:30:39 From: "Romy Snowyla" <romy(a)snowyla.com> To: "Sudo Room Discussion List" <sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org> Subject: [sudo-discuss] Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed The museum shows, the cat festival.. I guess we are all part of the master plan : P _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss

_______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing listsudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.orghttps://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss batkid(a)gmx.com May 10, 2014 at 7:29 PM Don't worry, Oakland won't become the East Hamptons anytime soon http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25737160/oakland-man-shot-driving-truc… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25732368/jurors-convict-man-murdering-… http://www.insidebayarea.com/news/ci_25731273/oakland-man-dies-from-injurie… -----Original message----- Sent: Saturday, 10 May 2014 at 21:30:39 From: "Romy Snowyla" <romy(a)snowyla.com> <romy(a)snowyla.com> To: "Sudo Room Discussion List" <sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org><sudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.org> Subject: [sudo-discuss] Oakland gentrification is very well planned & executed The museum shows, the cat festival.. I guess we are all part of the master plan : P _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss -- -- Ryan Bethencourt Tel: (415) 825 2705 ryan.bethencourt(a)gmail.com @ryanbethencourt _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing listsudo-discuss@lists.sudoroom.orghttps://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss _______________________________________________ sudo-discuss mailing list sudo-discuss(a)lists.sudoroom.org https://lists.sudoroom.org/listinfo/sudo-discuss

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